Meet our staff

I have gained good experience as a Service manager,Team Manager and Social Worker within several Local Authorities. This is included in several geographical localities, with a specific remit of identifying performance issues within the organisation, developing and implementing new structures to improve the service provided to young people and their families.  I was successful in achieving and bringing around the required improvements within services to homeless and vulnerable children within Essex. Achieving positive outcomes for children and young people has been and will continue to be the focus whilst driving REACH forward.

Within REACH we have created a learning environment and place great importance on reflective supervision with all workers. We utilise systemic supervision to provide staff with the required environment to learn and develop. I recognise that due to the nature of work we do at REACH with children and families, workers need to be given the opportunity to develop and to explore their emotional reactions and to enhance their resilience to manage complex situations As an organisation our strength is encouraging workers to share their skills with their colleagues, bringing members of our service together, and inspiring a collaborative vision. In following this approach this has resulted in establishing positive outcomes for the children and families we work with at REACH. As a result, this leads to a supportive team environment, greater team stability, staff retention and better outcomes for children and families.  

My passion is to identify and provide effective  interventions to families and children to ensure the proportionate, appropriate and relevant support is in place to provide positive outcomes  and avoid unnecessary and intrusive interventions.We need to work with families and children on an individual basis ensuring we harness the unique qualities and strengths of each family.

I am immensely proud of our team at REACH and the tireless efforts of the management and workers to ensure children, families and other agencies such as Education, Social Care,Youth Offending, Family Solutions and Charities are provided the best service possible to REACH positive outcomes for children and their families.

At REACH we believe that "success is built on belief" and that as an organisation we have a responsibility to ensure children and families are supported to be the best version of themselves, to persevere through adversity and ensure our interventions are bespoke to each individual child and family.

I have over 15 years of experience specialising in engaging with vulnerable children, young people and families, across both Education and Social Care sectors. I enjoy training staff in Direct Work, de-escalation techniques and how to engage children in sessions using strengths-based approaches. My extensive Solution Focused training and Advanced Non Violent Resistance (NVR) training have proved invaluable in making breakthroughs and building rapport with disenfranchised children. I have been privileged to run family groups in Non Violent Resistance (NVR) and the Families Learning About Self Harm programmes (FLASH) whilst in previous roles. 

I worked for both D-Bit (Divisional Based Intervention Team) and Family Solutions when employed by Essex County Council. This has given me an excellent grounding and understanding of the Social Care system whilst also being able to work closely with schools and other agencies.  I have worked with a number of esteemed colleagues, who have supported my development.

I am privileged and excited to manage an "outstanding" team at Reach Essex and continue to build on the excellent relations with schools and other wonderful teams across the County including Schools, Social Care, Youth Offending teams, Family Solutions and EWMHS. I am always keen to learn from colleagues and hope our positive inter-agency partnership work can help get children back into school and improve their family outcomes. 

Outside of work, I am an avid reader who was lucky enough to travel extensively learning about animals from Australia to the Galapagos Islands. Whilst abroad I wrote a book called 'The Primate Puzzle' to help raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital as they saved my life as a child. I am a keen cinema goer who loves a game of Scrabble in my spare time. Although I do admit to reading Scrabble books so I can win at Word Feud with 'zax' or 'qadi'. 

Learning that 'failing well' is the key to success; it builds belief and resilience in both old and young alike. My favourite character in a book would be Tigger, as 'bounce back ability' in life, work and school will serve us all well. 

I'm Lucy, and I started with REACH during Lock-down. I moved back to Essex from London and finding this job couldn't have come at a better time.

I love my role at REACH and doing what I feel is my chosen path, of supporting and encouraging young people to choose the most positive life choices whilst taking into account challenges, they are presented with.

Having worked in several Local Authorities my approaches to working with children has evolved and changed over time. I have extensive knowledge of differing proven methodologies and I work in a way that meets each and every young person and families specific needs.

I have many years experience of working with young people in all areas, for example, I have worked with young people in, Leaving Care, Residential care, Domestic Abuse, Children in Care, Children With Disabilities, Special Educational Needs Mentor, i have worked across Social Care and Educational sectors allowing me to have an extensive knowledge of the two main industries that seek to support children.

Being back in Essex and working for REACH is in my opinion, a wonderful support, for me is what in my age group would call AWESOME!

 I am passionate about helping adults and children alike to realise their potential and be the best versions of themselves.  I consider myself to be a good listener and a calming influence who is able to build a rapport with people easily.

I am an arts and crafts enthusiast and recently gained a Talking Through Art Therapy Qualification. I have both work and personal experience helping people through difficult times. I have gained qualifications in counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy since joining REACH which has positively impacted my practice and the bespoke interventions provided to all children, families and adult service users i am working with at REACH. 

Other than my children my other big love are my fur babies.  I love all animals and recently one of my dogs was registered as a therapy dog and accompanied me to work quite often. 

I have been involved in education in various forms since I left full-time education myself. I’ve worked 

as a teaching assistant, drama instructor and full-time primary teacher. 

Whilst studying for my degree in performing arts, I worked as part of a theatre in education group  

employed by Hull City Council to assist in parenting workshops for families struggling with hard  

hitting issues such as drug misuse, bullying, and other anti-social behaviour. 

The holistic ethos at REACH echoes a lot of my personal values in education.  I’m passionate about  

identifying barriers to learning and equipping young people with the confidence and skills to  

overcome these obstacles and provide opportunities and pathways to reach their potential and  

achieve success. 

With have a new member of staff joining the above post October 2020.

We are excited to announce a new member of staff joining our team October 2020.